Search This Blog

Subscribe to this blog

Follow by Email

New Urbanism in Liberty

My hopes for the future of Liberty is one which includes a concerted, and planned effort to improve the town for the better with better walk-ability, less roads (but more functional ones), and a more community center atmosphere for everyone. The New Urbanism approach fits so well here with available multi-use space and current infrastructure. However with the likes of the new Family Dollar, one must wonder if we're not headed in the wrong direction: sprawl.

This photo shows the heart of the Seaside, FL community located on the Florida panhandle. Notice the high-density nature of the development, with minimal spacing between the buildings and the narrow streets. The homes are located close to the street right-of-way and garages are located to the rear of the houses with access via alleyways. Sidewalks can also be used as parking for vehicles.

Seaside Florida is a perfect example of the utopian town we could achieve, if we so chose to make the effort:

Birkdale Village is a new urbanist village located near Huntersville in northern Mecklenburg County near Interstate 77. Notice the retail stores located below the upstairs residential units. Also notice the abundance of on-street parking, sidewalks and extensive landscaping.

Get link

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Other Apps

Comments

Liv,I wholeheartedly agree! There is so much potential here and the New Urbanism approach would be an extraordinary direction to go. It's time for an upgrade, a revitalization. The two examples you provided would be perfect for this little giant treasure of a village and possibly awaken it and save it from becoming generic...or a ghost town.I really love your vision and ideas.

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unbeknownst to many, only twenty minutes from the outskirts of Liberty, lies a government project shrouded in secrecy. It may sound like Stranger Things in real life, but hidden on Big Hole Road near Jordan Lake, AT&T Project Office NC-1 remains active. Before you start to speculate of aliens, gravity machines, and time travel, let's do some research first.

The Project Office itself was built in the mid-1960's; featuring shock-absorbing spring foundation, steel and concrete blast doors, rubber plumbing, and tropospheric scatter antennae, a technique to send radio signals slightly farther. For security, CCTV and steel crash barriers were also erected. More recently, a moat has been dug around the complex. The name "Big Hole" travailed from the amount of earth dug during construction, giving the project an estimated 13 underground storeys. After completion, it is assumed that it functioned as a telephone switching center, possibly for the military AUTOVON system. Mo…

Take a seat and jump back in time with this retro cool matchbook cover for Liberty's own Gregson Manufacturing Company featuring their XL Series office chairs. Founded in 1921 by Barnie J. Gregson, the matchbook cover could have been written by the President himself, "Most in Quality.... Most Reasonable Prices". However, this was back when the area code was still 919 and white shag carpet filled the living rooms.
Gregson chairs are designed and styled to add a warm, simple elegance to the architecture of the modern office. Each series is complete with a chair for every use. And there is a series exactly right forevery office - modest or luxurious. The most in Quality and Comfort at the most reasonable prices. [sic]
The Gregson family lived in Liberty for over five decades with Barnie's children, Joseph and Dwight joining the company. Joseph was known around town as a volunteer fire fighter and avid golfer who frequented the Sedgefield Country Club.

You'd be in disbelief if I told you there was an avant-garde styled restaurant, serving up some of the best food I've ever had, in Liberty. Not just the best in town, or county, but what might be the best diner in the entire state, perhaps only rivaling La Farm of Cary.
And you would be right, because there isn't one. Even though we have some great places, nothing in Liberty comes close.
However, Artisan Hub is only twenty minutes away in Downtown Siler City.
Artisan Hub describes the atmosphere as a "Down home feel with a new age flair." And I can't agree more. The chefs were kind, and willing to go that extra mile. At no point did I feel embarrassed or imposing to ask a question or for help. It helps that there is a lack of a crowd; turning it into a quiet, relaxing hideaway, that many people don't know of.
Now onto the food.
Words alone cannot describe how good this meal was. Everything had been seasoned to work in a robust masterpiece. As it's n…